One of the significant concerns with the insertion of intrauterine devices is uterine perforation. Though uncommon, it can be debilitating and fail the device. This article reviews uterine perforation with IUC in a community clinic in the UK.
Researchers collected data on uterine perforations, reviewed associated factors, and calculated the perforation’s annual rate, estimating if this lay within the expected range of normal variation using SPC analysis. We analyzed the rates of perforation concerning the time from delivery and to breastfeeding.
Twenty-eight of the perforations were in parous women, 87% of whom were within 18 weeks of delivery. Twenty of these were in breastfeeding women. In 3/28 cases for which we have outcome data, the device was adherent to or had perforated either the bladder or bowel.
The study concluded that our perforation rate is consistent with other researches. Most of our perforations were within 18 weeks of childbirth, earlier than in a recent major study. We cannot tell from our data if there is an actual peak in perforations three months postpartum as that may be when a high proportion of insertions are done.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/43/4/289
